THURSDAY 21ST DECEMBER 2006

Took 3 hour bus journey to Vientiane (capital of Laos).Got dropped off by the Mekong river so fisrt impressions were quite good. Trekking around looking for a cheap hostel however soon showed the capital in all its glory & impressions quickly altered! Just lots of buildings really, quite dirty and just hustly and bustly - not much to do. Went for walk along river & watched the sunset at Sunset Sala Khounta (a recommended bar) - which was lovely.

FRIDAY 22ND DECEMBER 2006

Went to Lao National History Museum. It didn't seem particularly informative though and left us feeling uneducated about Loas'history. We hired bikes in the afternoon and cycled to Patuxai which is the Laos replica of the Arc de Triomphe built to commemorate the people who died in pre-revolutionary wars. Not half as impressive as its French counterpart but worth seeing. Then cycled in a roundabout way (Gaz's map reading skills not up to much today!) to Pha That Luang which is apparently the most important national monument in Laos. Was good to see although Gaz was more impressed with the "beer lao" T shirt he bought from the markets outside.Left for Pakse - the next town on route.